Ship&#39;s berth



SHIP s BERTH Filed June 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n n l///////// l n n l l il Sept. 29, 1942. E. cAsPARY SHIP S BERTH Filed June 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 29, 1942.

SHIP S BERTH Filed June '30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 77 12 30/ f ,L. 7D E96 g @M @2f-Mr E. AsPARY 2,297,201

Patente-cl Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED ST TENT 'OFFICE SHPS BERTH Application June 30, 1939, Serial No. 282,241 In Germany March 10, 1937 3 Glaims.

This invention relates to ships berths and is particularly concerned with berths and arrangements thereof suitable for use in the restricted cabin spaces on warships.

The object of the invention is to rectify existing defects and to provide an arrangement wherein the berths, which can be rolled up in dividually, have their longitudinal and transverse members releasably secured to removable supporting ropes which can be stretched from deck to deck or between other supports such as a locker and a deck. According to the invention, the boundary members (tubes or spars) of a berth form a frame which can be folded with its transverse parts against the longitudinal parts and is liftable out by itself, whereupon it can be rolled up together with the base of the berth and the bedding to form a bundle or roll.

l The ability to lift the individual berth out of the structure as a whole and roll it up in spite of the use of rigid frame members acting as stays between the vertical ropes, facilitates the erection and dismantling of the whole arrangement. 'Zhis is particularly advantageous in the conditions obtaining on warships, for each individual can suspend or Stow away his berth without having to consider his neighbor in any way.

With rollable berths wherein a widening of the base forms material for the side screens, the edge-supporting member of the side-screens may consist of a rope which is releasably connected to the vertical supporting ropes. This arrangement not only facilitates the stowing away 'of the berth, but enhances the comfort of the user, for the rope connection allows a certain elasticity as compared with the rigidity of rod connections.

If the lower mounting is either a locker at 'the outer skin or other wall ci a ship, or a bez-tn spread thereon or some other berth whose undivided mattress, when out of use, can be set up as a back rest, then as a rule there is only an upper berth to consider. In such a case, this upper berth with ioldable frame may be rolled up with the frame, the base of the berth and the bedding material and then arranged at such a distance q1 above the lower-berth mattress, set up as a back rest, that the roll forms a head rest at the upper edge of the back rest. As is known, the sto-f"v` of berths when not in use, particularly on we ships, presents numerous diiculties which are advantageously solved by utilizing the rolled upper berth as a head-rest. At the same time, light and air can pass into the cabin space cuite unhindered, even on the low decks, through any available portholes.

The supporting ropes, if upper berths only are suspended from themy may be constructed as hangers extending freely downwardly from the deck. Frequently, hanging berths have side screens whose edge supporting members (ropes in particular) rest in fittings, on the hangers or on the appropriate part of an adjacent wall. In such a case, the invention provides that the fitting supporting the rear edge-supporting member may serve also for the holding of the 'front longitudinal tube or spar of the foldable berth in the rolled-up condition. The rolled berth thus nds a rm hold between the rear tube or spar of its frame, which remains in its ttings, and the re-secured front tube or spar of the frame. In cross-section, the rolled berth forms approximately a three-quarter circle which touches the upper iront edge of the folded-up mattress of the lower berth. The freely extending screens then preferably close the rolled berth towards the wall.

If the upper berth is supported on hangers when in use, then preferably the lower part of the hangers carrying the supporting fittings for the berth frame and for the supporting ropes for the side screens, is constructed as a rigid body whichV is braced against one or all of the parts of the berth frame, for example by means of foldable stays. Such stays are advantageously jointed to, for example, the longitudinal spar and engage means located on the rigid part of the hanger. The said stays may be rigidly connected by a displaceable pin so that rectilinear extension is possible. This arrangement d'oes not interfere with the possibility of rolling up the berth, because the stay, owing to its jointed connection, can be folded against the longitudinal spar.

A further feature consists in stiffening the berth frame, for example by a two-point mounting of oppositely located spars or tubes on the spars associated With them and at the ycorners of the frame. Thus, connection fittings provided with recesses may be welded to the longitudinal spars, which recesses are engaged by the transverse spars. The latter then lie firmly in the recesses, particularly when they also engage by means of pins in holes or sockets provided in the longitudinal spars. No separate securing members are required, 'because the transverse spars rest under their own weight in the recesses in the fittings attached to the longitudinal spars.

If roll-up berths with side screens are employed and their edge-'supporting members lconsist of ropes, then the disadvantage may still ap- .pear that the edge-supporting rope lacks a desirable elasticity. According to a further feature, therefore, the supporting rope for the front side screen of the berth has a length which allows the rope to sag to the berth frame. Since, however, the side screens :could not then exert any retainb ing action, one or more resilient members are provided which maintain the rope stretched with the formation of a loose portion or sag between the end points of the resilient member or members. This presents the possibility of pressing down the rope and, with it, the side screen to the berth frame when climbing into the berth. When released, the side screen springs up again and performs its normal function.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating suitable examples, in

which drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an improved berth arrangement.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic ,plan View of the arrangement.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation of an improved berth arrangement adjacent to a ships wall and over a locker.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of a berth rolled up.

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation to a larger scale and illustrates an arrangement such as that seen in Figure 3, but with the berth rolled up.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 but shows an upper berth, suspended above a cot arranged on the locker.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of berths in accordance with the invention.

The berth arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 consists of vertical supporting ropes I which are suspended between decks by hooks 2 or the like. The ropes vI are tensioned by turnbuckles 3 and are provided with suspension ttings 4 and 5. I'hese fittings 4 and 5 will be referred to as slip-on fittings because, as will be seen from Figure 9, each fitting may comprise a base with upstanding pegs or pins. A berth component to be supported is provi-ded with an eye socket or hole which can be slipped on to one of the pegs or pins whereby the component is supported -by resting upon the base of the tting and is secured against displacement by engagement with the peg or pin. An appropriate arrangement of ropes and ttings permits of the suspension of berths one above the other and also one behind another and one alongside another as will :be apparent from Figure 2. Each berth can be Suspended in the supporting ropes individually and independently of the others. A berthA consists of two longitudinal rods or tubes 6 which carry at one end a swingably connected transverse rod or tube 1. These transverse tubes or spars and the longitudinal tubes or spars are provided at their free ends with means adapted for engagement with one another vfor the making of connections. A web 8 of said cloth is releasably attached to the longitudinal tubes 6 .by means of seams or the like. By lateral Iwidening of the web at the two longitudinal sides of the berth, screens 9 are formed which are supported by stretched wire ropes IIJ. At the ends of the berth also, the web 8 is turned up to form screens II which are held up at the edges by stretched ropes I2. These stretched ropes engage the ttings 5 on the supporting ropes I.

The suspension of the berths in the supporting ropes is effected as follows: First of all a. longitudinal tube 6 is supported on a pair of ttings 4 on the ropes I, the web 8 of sail-cloth is then unrolled and the second longitudinal tube 6 is supported on another pair of fittings 4. The two transverse tubes 'I are then swung out through 90 and attached to the longitudinal tubes 6 by means of the connecting means aforesaid. In this fashion, the longitudinal and transverse tubes are connected to form a frame which takes up the forces arising upon its loading like a fixed berth frame and transmits them to the supporting ropes I.` The side portions of the web 8, which serve at the sides and at ends as screens 9 and II and separate the berths located side :by side, are secured by hooking the ropes I0 and I2 to the insertion ttings 5 on the supporting ropes i I. In order to hold the screens at the necessary height, even in the middle of their length, the

middles may be additionally supported by vertical straps I 3 which can be hooked to an upper berth or to the deck above.

After use, the berth with the bedding stowed therein is rolled up and secured in this form by buckled belts I4 (Fig. 4). For this purpose, a longitudinal tube 6 is lifted from its supports, the transverse tubes 'I are folded against the longitudinal tubes and the berth is rolled up to the second longitudinal tube 6. The belts I4 are then slung round the roll and buckled, Whereupon the rolled up berth is lifted to remove the second longitudinal tube B from its supports and the berth complete with its frame components is stowed away. A device for locking the belt buckles and preventing unauthorised opening of, or interference with aberth may be provided.

The supporting ropes I are suspended by the man first going to the sleeping quarters and are stowed by the last man getting up, preferably below deck at the place of use. The slip-on fittings 4 and 5 on the ropes I are so devised that they permit of the attachment of berths both at the sides and at the ends. For this purpose, the pegs or pins of the supporting fittings 4 and 5 are arranged diagonally in relation to the sides of the berth as will be clear from Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows a modification wherein berths I1 are arranged at an outer wall 2I of a ship and above lockers I8 the latter being adapted to serve as sleeping places I9 at night. In this case, there may be only one upper berth Il above the lower berth I9. The forward and rearward supporting ropes I are stretched between the deck above and the lockers I8 otherwise the arrangement may be the same as in Figs. l and 2. There is also the possibility of leaving the supporting ropes, particularly the outer ropes 20, in position during the day, as they are not in the way when the lockers are used as seats. A better utilisation of space and a freer position for those lying down results from the inclined arrangement of the supporting ropes seen in Figure 3. In this arrangement, the upper berths may be dismantled by being rolled up against the wall 2|, for example by suspending them on the supporting ropes 20 by means of the longitudinal tube 6 adjacent to the wall. A separate stowage space is then unnecessary.

The lower berth made up on the locker I8 is preferably not capable of being rolled up, but is made with a mattress which can be turned up against the wall 2| of the vessel, as is shown, although in a different arrangement, in Figure 5. The locker may then serve during the day as a seat, for without the mattress it is not too high, and the mattress 23 may serve as a back rest.

In Figures 5 and 6, 2| indicates the skin of the ship in which there is a port-hole 22. The lower berth I9 (Fig. 6) is made up on the locker I8. It consists of an undivided mattress 23 and rail'- ings 24, 25 which can be set erected around it to form a cot. Similarly t0 Figure 3, there is an upper berth I1 situated above the lower berth. 'I'he former consists, once again, of the foldable berth frame with longitudinal spars or tubes B and transverse spars or tubes I between which the web 8 of sail-cloth is stretched as a base supporting the mattress 26 and the other bedding 21. The outer longitudinal tube of the berth frame can be supported upon slip-on ttings 28 which correspond to the ttings 4 on the supporting rope 26 in Figure 3. There is this difference, however, that the iittings 28 are supported directly on the wall 2| of the vessel. The other tube 6, is supported by hangers 29 which are suspended from the deck above. The base 8 of the berth is again widened to form screens 9 and II whose edge supporting members (stretched ropes) I and I2 are attached to slip-on ttings 3D and 3| which correspond to the ttings 5 in Figures 1 and 2 but, in the present instance, are provided on the hangers 29 and on the wall of the vessel.

Instead of attaching the ttings 28 and 3| to the wall of the vessel, they may be carried on a supporting rope corresponding to the rope 26 in Fig. 3. Similarly, in place of the hangers 29, supporting ropes similar to the supporting ropes I in Fig. 3 may be employed, on which ropes the appropriate slip-on ttings for the berth frame and the edge-supporting members IIJ arid I2 for the screens must then be arranged.

As may be seen from Figure 5, the removable rails, 24, for the lower berth |9 may be secured against the wall 2| of the vessel in a folded-up condition. The mattress 23 is set up approximately parallel to the wall 2| and serves during the day as a back rest. The upper berth, on the other hand, is made so that it can be rolled up. This rolling is effected by unhooking the appropriate tube 6 from the hanger 29, folding up the berth frame, rolling up the whole, with mattress 26, bedding 2'I and transverse frame members I as a roll-package and securing the said tube 6 upon the fitting 3| which previously held the edge-supporting member I2 of the side screens I I. The screen 9 then hangs freely down and offers protection against the wall 2| of the vessel, as indicated in Figure 5. If desired, a side screen 32 may be provided on the side of the wall 2|, in which event, such screen will be rolled up in the rolled condition of the upper berth.

The level of the upper berth I'I is so devised that the roll-package when secured to the wall of the vessel, as in Figure 5, rests upon the turned-up longitudinal edge of the lower mattress 23. In this position it then serves as a head-rest.

Figure '7 shows a longitudinal spar 6 resting with its end on a slip-on tting 4 of the hanger 29. The lower part 33 of the hanger 29 is made rigid and this rigid part also carries the slip-on tting 36 for the ends of the edge-supporting members I0 and I2, constructed as ropes, for the screens 9, II. The rigid part 33 has also an attachment 35 which is provided with a bolt 34 and which is rigidly connected to the said part. A stay arm 36, pivoted at 3l to the longitudinal tube 6 can be swung against the end surface of' this attachment member 35. The stay arm 36 has at its swingable end a recess in which the bolt 34 can engage. There is thus produced a cornerstifening means which can be taken apart and which does not prevent the rolling up of the berth.

The length of the rope I6 Figure 7, is so designed that it contacts with the tube 6 when it hangs down freely between the fittings 30 at both ends. However, in order that it may be stretched taut, there is connected between two points in the rope a spring 38 below which the rope then forms a freely sagging loop 39. 'I'hus the rope I 0 can be forced downwardly by a person entering or leaving the berth but stretches itself taut again when released. Since this rope supports the edge of a side screen, the latter consequently follows the movement of the rope.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate other berth-stiftening means and show a longitudinal 6 supported on a slip-on tting 4 on a rigid hanger part 33. A transverse member I has a pin 4|] which is inserted in a corresponding recess or eye in the longitudinal 6. The latter is tted-with an arm 4| which extends in the direction of the transverse member 1 and carries at its end a fork 42 in which the transverse member 'I rests. Thus, the transverse member has a two-point mounting which prevents twisting of the rectangular berth frame to another form of parallelogram. The weight on the berth prevents the transverse members 'I from becoming unintentionally lifted out from the fork 42.

I claim:

1. A ships berth assembly comprising spaced, flexible, non-resilient suspension means supported on xed portions of said ship, rigid, non-resilient supporting members secured on said suspension means, and a berth structure removably supported on said supporting members, said structure comprising a collapsible rectangular horizontal frame having longitudinal and transverse members, and a web stretched over said frame, said web being extended beyond said frame to form side screens, supporting cords eX- tending along and engaging the upper edges of said side screens, and means on said suspension means for engaging and supporting said cords, said berth structure being so constructed and arranged that When collapsed it may be rolled into a compact bundle.

2. A ships berth assembly comprising spaced, flexible, non-resilient suspension means supported on xed portions of said ship, rigid, non-resilient supporting members secured on said suspension means, and a berth structure removably supported on said supporting members, said structure comprising a collapsible rectangular horizontal frame having longitudinal and trans- Verse members, and a web stretched over said frame, said web being extended beyond said frame to form side screens, supporting cords extending along and engaging the upper edges of said side screens, means on said suspension means for engaging and supporting said cords, one of said cords being longer than the distance between the suspension means to which it is connected, and resilient means for maintaining said cord normally taut, said berth structure being so constructed and arranged that when collapsed it may be rolled into a compact bundle.

3. A ships berth assembly comprising spaced, iiexible, non-resilient suspension means supported on ixed portions of said ship, rigid, nonresilient supporting members secured on said suspension means, and a berth structure removably supported on said supporting members, said structure comprising a collapsible rectangular horizontal frame having longitudinal and transverse members, means carried by said longitudinal and transverse frame members for detachably interengaging said members at two points adjacent each corner of said frame for preventing horizontal distortion of said frame, and a web stretched over said frame, said berth structure being so constructed and arranged that when collapsed it may be rolled into a compact bundle.

EMIL GASPAR-Y. 

